Lighting hrw and fog light switch removal.

[majcd213]

Hi all, I'm just wondering how to remove the dash lighting switch from an 84 dash. All of these seem to just lever up but I don't want to force them.
Thanks
Mike

[Johnwindwood]

Best not to prize them. Take the gear lever gaiter and surround off. Take the radio out (If fitted), carefully lever/pull out the two air vents. Reach in through the air vent holes and on either side you'll find a wing nut. Undo and remove both, then the whole panel should lift out at the bottom and it unhooks from the dash at the top.

[richardw]

If its's like my 1981 Elite S2, the switches are (supposed to be) illuminated by fibreoptics from a lamp unit mounted on the scuttle behind the centre console panel. The fibreoptic cables run to a translucent white plastic surround which clips onto the switch behind the panel, keeping it in place and diffusing the illumination from the cable. This needs to be carefully prised off before the switch can be removed.

Although my bulb works, the fibreoptic illumination doesn't, so I'm trying to work out of I could use low powered white LEDs on each switch instead.

ATB Richard

[majcd213]

Great, thanks a lot it was pretty impenetrable just looking at it. I needs to sort the cigar lighter too so taking the panel off is the best route.
Looks like tomorrows activities are sorted!
Thanks
Mike

[don.hasi]

Definitely do the complete job. All others, will guide you to the dark side of the force... And you will broke the switches and the fibreopticclips.


@richard: the main fibre light is the same like from Jags XJ of the time, which are even in Germany sometimes around. It is then just one big bulb.

[majcd213]

Thanks everyone _ I had a lot to do behind this fascia panel and I'm getting stuck in. Currently its stripped out and hoping to rebuild today but I need some new bulbs. The stripping of this early style dash panel wasn't entirely straight forward and I've posted my experience on my blog in case its of use to anyone.
Mike
https://majcd213.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08 ... radio.html

Incidentally if anyone has a manual for the Sparkomatic 309F radio cassette player I'd love a copy!

[Johnwindwood]

Nice write up Mike-it's a job I have to do soon. My airvents just pull out so I must be lucky !

Did you get anywhere with the fibreoptics yet?

[tonypoll]

Mike,
I saw one of your problems was that you want the cigar lighter as a power source for your satnav.
I found that this was a problem as the satnav connector was a bit big and I kept hitting it when changing gear.
I got LotusBits to fit an extra 12V supply in the back of the glove compartment. Now I can run the satnav wire into the glove box and it doesn't get it the way of changing gear.
I think the actual 12V supply came from the left-hand side of the passenger foot-well where there was a 'spare' 12V supply for fitting an old mobile phone.
Let me know if you want more details.
Tony

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Similarly, I fitted an extra cigar lighter/double usb combo into the side of the passenger centre console/foot well. All wiring very straight forward using std existing cables located within the radio aperture / existing cig lighter stuff.

Having direct usb sockets for both sat nav and iphone is a bonus ..plus you still have the original sig lighter if you must smoke!

I'll load a picture tomorrow ..looks very neat /almost original and very accessible.

[majcd213]

Hi all 3 further questions: firstly where is the fibre optic light source and how do you get to it?
Secondly has anyone found decent LEDs to replace the instrument lights; ba7s, ba9s and mes I think. No prob finding LEDs in these sizes but the 'bulb' part is often too big (wide and/or high) to fit into the instrument case?
Finally what are the small capless bulbs that fit in the hrw and foglight warning switches?
Everything went back fine with my dash panel... But the radio has lost power so something has come adrift or shorted and I will need to remove it again... Off on hols first though so I thought I'd organize some leds in the meantime and upgrade later.
Cheers
Mike